Robert P. Tinnin, Jr.

Mr. Robert P. Tinnin, Jr., founder of the Tinnin Law Firm in Albuquerque, NM, died on August 24, 2025.

Albuquerque born and raised, Bobby, or Tinnin as he was also affectionately known, was a true renaissance man with an iconic laugh and a legendary personality.

A real hometown boy, in his early years Tinnin gathered wild asparagus along the ditches; rushed to fill sandbags with any threat of 4th Street flooding, drove the delivery truck for Marina's dry cleaners, and ate his favorite enchiladas at Duran's. He was a member of a club created by neighborhood kids who wrote and produced plays. Their teacher dubbed them the "Park Avenue Gang". He loved the ease of living at Park Plaza and appreciated his view of the beautiful sunsets. As much as he loved Albuquerque, his other happy places were New Orleans, Louisiana, La Jolla, California, and Rome, Italy.

Tinnin attended Manzano Day School, Lew Wallace Elementary, Washington Middle School, Albuquerque High School, and Brown University. He received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of New Mexico where he was a member of Sigma Chi. He received his law degree from Indiana University, with distinction, where he served as Note Editor for the Indiana Law Review.

An accomplished labor and employment attorney with an outstanding legal mind, Tinnin began his career as a law clerk to the Honorable Oliver Seth of the US Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. He was known for his work with his former firm Poole, Tinnin & Martin prior to founding the Tinnin Law Firm with his partner, Stanly Kotovsky, in 2004. He was a past president of both the State Bar of New Mexico and the New Mexico Bar Foundation, and an active member of the American Bar Association where he served on various committees of the Labor and Employment and Litigation Sections. He was a member of the American Academy of Hospital Attorneys and a fellow of the American Bar Foundation. He was recognized as a Southwest Super Lawyer and had been selected for listing in every edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Tinnin was the editor-in-chief of Employment Law Desk Book for New Mexico Employers. He devoted faithful service to the Employer's Counsel Network and served as chair of the Board of Ethics and Campaign Practices for the City of Albuquerque. His professional associations led to lifelong friendships that meant the world to him.

In addition to his successful professional career, Tinnin was a fly fisherman, a black diamond and double-black diamond skier, and a fiercely competitive golfer, a sport he wryly described as being about "outdoor drinking and gambling." He cherished his golfing friends and was a proud legacy member and past president of the Albuquerque Country Club.

From an early age, Tinnin was a bird hunter known for his spot-on turkey call, which he revived every Thanksgiving. He holds the state swimming record for the 50-meter freestyle, a record that can't be beaten, as they no longer run the competition. An avid sports fan and life-long subscriber to Sports Illustrated from its very first issue, Tinnin held season basketball tickets to UNM's Lobos, five rows behind the bench, and was devoted to the Dallas Cowboys.

Beyond sports, Tinnin delighted in the poetry of Ogden Nash and was an art collector. He had a green thumb and was drawn to nature and nature programs. One of his favorite memories was taking a trip down the Colorado River with his sons, Josh and Sean and hiking the Bright Angel trail out of the Grand Canyon.

A lover of music, Tinnin knew the lyrics to every song, especially Hank Williams and all of Outlaw Country. His CB Radio handle was "Cosmic Cowboy." He had a ZZ Top Backstage Pass sticker affixed to his court briefcase, and was a true Beatles believer, his favorites being "All You Need Is Love" and "Let it Be". In the heart of the Peace Movement he would stand on Central Avenue in downtown Albuquerque, hand out fresh flowers to passers-by and say, "I love you," in true hippie fashion; though he ultimately credited his wife Libby with teaching him what true love really is.

Tinnin liked to go to dinner, which was always an adventure, not just because he was always teed up for a laugh, but also because a parade of friends and acquaintances would inevitably, endlessly stop by his table to say a fond hello. He was an accomplished Chinese cook and a follower of Julia Child and the Art of French Cooking. The not-so-secret ingredients for his New Year's Day Hoppin' John were bourbon and jalapeños.

Active in the Democratic Party, Tinnin was proud of helping to get the signatures needed for Jimmy Carter to be on the ballot. A personal note from President Carter hung on his office wall, and Tinnin would fondly refer to him as, "my friend Jimmy." Another political highlight was being invited to observe the Watergate hearings.

Deeply inclusive and egalitarian in spirit, Tinnin was a leader of Equal Access to Justice, a patron of the National Institute of Flamenco, and a sponsor of New Day Youth and Family Services. He was always a willing and available mentor.

Tinnin has been lovingly described as a person who was pure of heart with good motivations, and as a "silver coin, half salt". Devilishly handsome with white hair, bright blue eyes, and a Hollywood tan, Tinnin was always the best-looking and best dressed. He had smooth moves on the dance floor - he took dance class every semester in college and kept the party going long after that. We like to imagine he still is.

Tinnin is survived by his wife, Elizabeth "Libby" Madden; son, Joshua Tinnin (Santa Fe, NM); stepson, Sean Tonning and his wife, Charlene (Horseshoe Bay, TX); his dear baby sister, Nancy Milski and her husband, Danny (Grand Junction, CO); brother, Thomas Tinnin (Albuquerque, NM); and close cousin, Fred Luthy (Albuquerque, NM).

We'd like to thank the staff at Park Plaza Condominiums, the leadership and employees at The Retreat Healthcare, and Tinnin's caregiver friends, especially Tai and Bird. We are so grateful for your continued support.

Services will be held Friday, October 17th, 10:30 a.m., at the Cathedral of St. John, 318 Silver Avenue SW, Albuquerque, NM 87102.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the "The Robert P. Tinnin, Jr. & Elizabeth P. Madden Endowment" at the Albuquerque Community Foundation, 624 Tijeras Ave., NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102; abqcf.org; or 505.883.6240. This foundation provides grants to meet the most pressing needs of the community. Thank you.

Sigma Chi Grace, abbreviated

Our Father, We thank thee for thy many blessings.

Keep us from harm.

Guide us and teach us to be true

to each other, ourselves, and Thee.

Amen